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Cycling could face Olympic axe: Pound

Sydney

Jason Niblett and Scott Sutherland in qualifying for Australia in the team sprint. Photo: Quentin Jones

Cycling could be dumped from the Olympics if Lance Armstrong implicates the sport's governing body in covering up widespread doping, according to International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Dick Pound.

Pound, a former head of the World Anti-Doping Agency, has told Reuters that the IOC may have little choice if Armstrong demonstrates the International Cycling Union (UCI) acted improperly.

"We could say, 'look, you've clearly got a problem why don't we give you four years, eight years to sort it out," Pound said.

"And when you think you're ready come on back we'll see whether it would be a good idea to put you back on the program."

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Pound said history suggested the IOC may need to take action.

"The only way it (cycling) is going to clean up is if all these people say 'hey, we're no longer in the Olympics and that's where we want to be so let's earn our way back into it,"' Pound said.

"The IOC would have to deal with it, the (UCI) is not known for its strong actions to anti-doping."

Pound made his comments after talk show host Oprah Winfrey confirmed media reports that Armstrong admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs in an interview that was taped on Monday.

The full details will not be known until the interview is broadcast on Friday AEDT and Saturday AEDT, although CBS reported that Armstrong indicated he might be willing to testify against others.